Washing-machine.



PATENTED JULY 7 1903. F. E. HOOVER. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 7, 1903.

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No. 733,201. PATENTED JULY 7. 1903.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 2- Patented July '7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX E. HOOVER, OF TOLU, KENTUCKY.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 733,201, dated July '7, 1903. Application filed February 7, 1903. Serial No. 142,368. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Beitknown that LFELIX E. HOOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tolu,in the county of Orittenden and State of Kentucky,have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to machines for washing clothes and other articles made of textile fabric, and more particularly to that type of Washing-machine in which the Water is forced through the fabrics by the movement of a rocking pounder mounted on hinges in the tub of the machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a washing-machine of the class specified improved means for causing the circulation of the water through the fabrics to be cleansed and at the same time to diminish so far as possible the Wear upon the fabrics in the washing process.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine of simple construction which shall be readily portable from place to place and in which the parts are so arranged that the machine may be simple in operation and durable in service.

The machine as hereinafter disclosed is adapted, primarily, for use in rural comm unities, where washing is ordinarily carried on out of doors and the boiling of the clothes or other articles is done in a kettle over a fire on the ground. It is, however, to be understood that the machine as hereinafter described may be used to advantage indoors also.

lVith this and other objects in view, which will appear as the invention is more fully disclosed, my improved washing-machine consists, essentially, of a tub made, preferably, of galvanized steel and mounted upon an iron truck provided with iron wheels, a false bottom provided with openings and supported slightly above the true bottom of the tub, and a rocking pounder suitably mounted upon one of the sides of the tub.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which corresponding parts are designated by the same characters of reference, is shown the preferred form of embodiment of myinvention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of my machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the truck. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a false bottom. spective view of the tub, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pounder.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 designates a truck of simple construction and preferably formed of iron, upon which the tub 2 is supported. The truck 1 is provided with Wheels 3, which are also preferably of iron.

The tub 2 is preferably made of heavilygalvanized sheet-steel, riveted together at the corners and having a rectangular bottom and flaring sides, as shown. Fastened to the two sides of the tub at the top and at one end are the handles 4 4:, which form convenient means for tilting the tub or for moving the washing-machine about when the rocker (to be presently described) is removed from the tub. The tub 2 is preferably provided with a strengthening-rim 5, suitablysecured to the sides near the top, as shown. side of one of the ends of the tub are provided two ribs 6 6, which extend from the bottom to the flange 5 and which are securely fastened in position against the end piece of the tub. The ribs 6 6 are pierced at intervals by transverse holes 7, which form seats for the projecting pintles provided on the rocking pounder 9. The rocking pounder 9 is preferably made of galvanized steel of the same weight as that used in the construction of the tub 2 and is in the form of a frustum of a pyramid, having its bottom open and the top closed. A pair of hinge members provided with pintles 8 8 are bolted to one of the ends of the rocking pounder and adapted to form, with the ribs 6 6, provided in the tub, a separable hinged connection between the tub and the rocking pounder. Securely fastened to the top of the rocking pounder are a pair of rods l0 10, which are provided at their ends with a transverse rod 11, which forms a suitable handle and which, together with the rods 10 10, constitutes means for operating the rocking pounder.

In order to insure free circulation of the water through the clothes or other articles during the washing process, a false bottom 12, consisting of a plurality of transverselydisposed slats 14, secured on a smaller num- Fig. 4: is a per- On the innerher of longitudinally-disposed braces 15, is placed on the bottom of the tub 2, with the transverse slats upward. The slats and braces are of such dimensions that the upper surface of the slats is about an inch and a half above the bottom of the tub, and consequently permits free circulation of the water under the articles to be washed, which rest upon the false bottom.

To prevent splashing of the water over the sides of the tub during the washing process, I provide a metallic cover 13, which rests upon the flange 5 near the top of the tub and which has its middle portion cut out, leaving a space a little larger than the bottom of the tub to permit the free movement of the rocking pounder through this opening.

To facilitate the emptying of the water from the machine after the completion of the washing operation, in one corner thereof a valve of any desired form is provided, which may be operated by means of a chain fastened to the valve and extending up-to the top of the tub or by means of any suitable form of mechanism on the outside of the tub. As any suitable form of valve and operating mechanism may be used, a more detailed description thereof is regarded as unnecessary.

In operating my improved washing-machine the course of procedure which is most economical of time'and effort is to place the articles to be washed on the false bottom in the tub, put in a suitable amount of water and any washing compound which may be desired, adjust the rocking pounder in position, inserting the pintlcs S 8 into those of the holes 7 which are most suitable for use with the quantity of goods to be washed, then roll the washing-machine into position over a fire, so that the water may be kept at a boiling temperature during the entire washing process. Then the boiling has begun, the washing is accomplished by simply oscillating the rocking pounder by means of the handle 1'1 and the rods 10, fastened to the top of the pounder. Owing to the elasticity of the air imprisoned under the rocking pounder,

the water is driven back and forth through the fabrics in the washing-machine as the pounder is rocked up and down. In this way the washing is very rapidly and efiectively done without injuring the fabrics in any way by rubbing or pounding, as is the common procedure in washing without machines and in washing-machines of many forms.

By having the washing-machine mounted on an iron truck I am enabled to transfer it from the place at which the articles to be washed and the water are placed in the machine to the fire over which the boiling and washing are to be done in a very expeditious manner and with but little efiort. By having the truck and its wheels made of iron the machine can be drawn into position immediately over the fire without injury and any lifting is completely obviated. After the washing process is completed the machine may be drawn to any suitable place for emptying the water out of the tub, and this may be conveniently accomplished by opening the valve 13, provided for the purpose in one corner of the bottom.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my improved washing-machine, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination in a washing-machine of a tub, a removable false bottom in said tub provided with openings, ribs secured to one end of said tub and extending from the bottom to the top, a series of transversely-disposed holes provided in said ribs, a rocking pounder provided with pintles adapted to fit the holes in said ribs, and means for operating said pounder. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FELIX E. HOOVER.

WVitnesses:

CARL HENDERSON, L. E. GUESS. 

